MBA dual degree programs are becoming more popular due to the need for individuals to be well-versed in multiple careers. There are various types of programs, including those that offer an additional master’s degree and those that pair the MBA with a terminal degree. These programs can save time and provide a competitive edge in the job market.
The Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree is considered by many to be an advanced academic credential, with many cross-applications in other occupational fields. Business theory and practice can be an integral part of a person’s success in a job that has another primary focus. There are many different types of dual degree MBA programs offered by universities around the world. Most popular programs award a dual master’s degree, but some pair the MBA with a terminal degree such as a Juris Doctor (JD) or Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) credential.
Two-degree programs grew in popularity in the first decade of the 21st century. Traditionally, there have been few structured two-degree programs offered by universities, with the joint JD/MBA being the most common pairing. As education levels changed and the job market became more competitive in tight economies, universities began to design two-degree MBA programs that addressed the need to be well-versed in more than one career and grounded in methods of businesses that have become even more important. Technology has enabled the globalization of the international market.
Currently, there are as many different types of MBA dual degree programs as schools can imagine for practical purposes. It is nearly impossible to impose a categorization scheme on these types of programs because all schools structure their degree programs differently. Perhaps the only relevant distinction is between dual master’s programs and programs that offer an MBA paired with a doctorate. Within the dual master’s category, however, options range from a Master of Science to a Master of Arts across the academic spectrum.
Dual degree MBA programs that offer an additional master’s degree give students the benefit of receiving two degrees with one year less study. This type of double degree allows two two-year degrees to be completed in three years instead of four. Examples of this type of joint program include the MBA/MS in Urban Planning or Architecture, the MBA/MS in Nursing, and the MBA/MS in International and Public Relations (MIS).
The other category of two-degree MBA programs includes MBAs paired with terminal degrees, or degrees that take more than two years to complete. In such cases, the joint study will still typically shave a year off the time needed to pursue each separately. For example, the two-year MBA paired with the three-year JD can be completed in a structured two-degree program in four years. Another example is the MBA and medical (MD) degree, which can be completed in five years instead of six. A new development in dual-degree MBA programs offers both an MBA and a doctorate in whatever field a school offers, which can be completed in seven years.
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